awashlogs | Event Nine.

[ Someone who's case they get on a lot... yeah, he must be a reckless type. In that case, their anger was likely warranted every single time, at least from their perspective. His scolding annoys them, but currently they're a little more frustrated over 1) not having legs and 2) their own fault of getting dragged there in the first place, so they just keep their hand laying flat over their face, covering half of their frown. ]

Oh, that's rich. Why should I listen to a talking to from someone who gets in trouble constantly... I'm sure I had good reason to give you a hard time.

[ Getting taken to that island was a mistake in their judgment, sure, especially when they know this place plays with voices of those from home. But at least they're (semi) self-aware about their own dumbassery, and he probably isn't if they're always having to yell at him. ]

[ They might be missing memories, but that reaction clearly shows that they're not missing whatever makes them Cairngorm. He laughs - a little short and wheezy, but a laugh nonetheless. ]

Because you're a worrywart? I'm not sure that counts as a good reason.

[ they'll remain at odds on what counts as idiocy and what counts as bravery - as far as Lupin's concerned, his only mistake so far in all his time here has been getting bitten by that werewolf, and he's willing to admit that, at least. Anything else dangerous he's done? Calculated and successful, by virtue of him still standing here. The scenery begins to change as they pass into the more pastoral Flavo, but Cairn's house is still a ways off. ]

[ Their frown only deepens when he laughs, and normally they'd tense up and close themself off like they usually do, but they have a feeling moving at all will just make this harder for him. So they refrain, but only barely. ]

I'm not a worrywart. [ They just hate impulsive and reckless behavior!! Even though they also have very recently made an extremely impulsive decision that ended badly. ] You're the one worrying about someone immortal that can't feel pain. Even if I was worried about you at some point, at least that makes more logical sense than you worrying about me.

Edited 2018-08-17 11:35 (UTC)

[ Point one: he's pretty sure they aren't really immortal if they can be broken apart. Point two: even if they can't feel pain or death, there are worse things than that. Such as losing all your limbs and memories, for instance.

Just because you can't feel pain doesn't mean you're never in any danger. You're smart enough to know that, yourself, aren't you?

[ he knows they are... he also knows they're most likely just being difficult because they don't know how to respond to his caring about them, and so, his responses stay light. Lupin might have said he'd give them a hard time, but he doesn't sound the least bit critical - his voice is just teasing. Teasing, and beneath that, concerned, though he's good at hiding that. ]

Worrying doesn't need to be logical, anyway. Sorry to tell you this, but we humans are emotional creatures. You'll have to accept my concern comes from my heart, not my head.

From your "heart".

[ At least half their eye roll is concealed while their eyes are shut, before they open them half way and just stare at him, thoroughly unimpressed. They move their hand to rest against their chest, revealing their other pale quartz eye— a stark contrast against the black crystal of their face. ]

Saying you use your heart over your head doesn't make me feel like you should be commenting on how smart I am...

[ It's true that they don't know how to respond to someone worrying about them, especially for what they perceive as irrational reasons; they'd rather divert the conversation than wallow in it. They'll just close their eyes again. Like him, there isn't much maliciousness in their voice other than the expected grumpiness considering their condition; they're just too damn tired to come off as more aggressive. ]

Sometimes your heart knows better than your head does, you know.

[ they most likely do not know... but that's fine. He's sure they'll figure it out eventually. Lupin's arms are about ready to fall off, too, by this point, but fortunately, Cairn's house appears on the horizon, and he hurries towards it. ]

Almost there. Let's hope the rest of you made it back before I did.

[ if he has to do this again carrying their legs he'll probably pull something!! For now, though, the only thing he's pulling is the front door open. ]

[ No it literally does not, is what they want to say, but they're thankfully more interested in watching him open the door to their home. You know, because they actually are quite stressed out about not receiving all their limbs back— Cairngorm is notorious among gems for having an extremely hard time replacing parts of themself, so if something doesn't make it back, they'll be metaphorically up the creek without a paddle.

When he swings open the door, other than Cairngorm's neat and humble abode, he'll see that there are indeed crystal limbs out and about. On the table near the couch, the saturated black of their limbs sticks out from the monochrome of everything else. Their left arm is placed on the table such that the hand dangles off the edge limply, and the rest of both their legs broken into two pieces each: two pieces that run from the upper-mid thigh to right above the knee, and two pieces from their knee to the bottom of their tall heel. He might notice that their other arm is a slightly off-shade of black from their other limbs; black quartz, definitely, but different somehow from the rest of them, like it had been carved from a different stone entirely.

Seeing it all, they let out an audible sigh of relief, grateful both that their plan worked and that nothing looks particularly damaged, at least not from afar... ]

I thought they might have sunk.... [ Is all they can say in response to his musing, putting their hand on his shoulder so they can sit up a little in his arms to take stock of the room. Thankfully all their stuff was set right near the couch so he won't have to move them very far, he's already done a ton for arm day afterall. ] I guess whoever I asked did what they were told.

[ When they remember, they'll have to pay them back somehow... ]

[ take stock fast, Cairngorm, because Lupin only hesitates for a brief moment to confirm all their parts are here before tottering over to the aforementioned couch and setting them down there with perhaps a little less delicacy than usual; once they're settled, he straightens up, heaving a huge sigh before wiping a few beads of sweat from his forehead. Suffice to say the novelty of finally being able to pick up and carry them wore off within the first five spine-straining minutes - especially since Cairngorm was so out of it that they didn't have any chance to get all cute and fluttery about it. Very tragic.

But it's fine. There are more important things to do than try and charm his favorite rock at the moment - namely, putting all said rock's limbs back together. Once he's taken a moment to catch his breath, he rests his hands on his hips, looking at the pieces of them laying about. It's a sort of surreal scene - one that would probably be more alarming if he wasn't tentatively used to it already. ]

I'm glad they did. [ Lupin doesn't know who it was, either. ] So... Same as before?

[ he has a snappy memory, so he basically remembers the process they used to put the pieces of their face back on... unless they can do it themselves. Maybe they can. ]

...?

[ Unsurprisingly, they're momentarily confused by the question, not recalling what he's referring to in the slightest. It definitely takes a few moments for them to jump through the hoops of oh, he's saying he's helped do this before and this is probably why I set things up this way before cutting all my limbs off. ]

I don't remember before, but we'll have to repair the legs first before I put them on. That arm will likely be an issue, too... but maybe you already know that.

[ They'll have to see if it'll reattach correctly with their... admittedly not top-tier glue they made. They've never tried gluing back on pieces this big with it, so they look thoughtful for a brief moment, looking between the pieces on the table and their alleged friend, who looks way more tired than they were expecting. ]

There should be resin and brushes in my room— unless you are too tired to carry it.

[ yes this is an appropriate time for the dry comedy shtick ]

[ yeah he should have thought that question out more before he asked it but listen. he's tired now.

not so tired, however, that he can't help them with this! When Cairngorm makes that comment, he reaches over and gives them a solid poke to the forehead. ]

See? Worrywart. I can handle myself just fine.

[ Lupin then turns from them, heading towards their room to pick up the tools they need, as instructed. It doesn't take him long to come back with the same items Cairngorm had brought out last time they did this - the brushes, the resin, the powder. At this point, he's also wondering if the glue will really be enough for entire limbs, but... they did use it to stick their leg back on before, right? It has to be pretty strong. He sets the tray on the table, then moves over to that discolored arm. ]

How about the arm first? Then you might be able to help me out some more.

[ it does look a little strange - clearly a different stone, if not a different gem, to his practiced eye - and although he's curious, he's not going to ask. For now, he's focused on making sure they're going to be all right. ]

[ He can definitely expect a swatting at his hand at that forehead pock, even if it's slow and groggy. Unfortunately he's also gone before they can reiterate that they're not a worrywart, too, so they just wait there annoyed until he comes back. ]

Ugh... okay.

[ They sit up at his suggestion (extremely reluctantly), pressing the inner corner of their eye before rolling up the short black sleeve of their uniform, the open face of their wound a diagonal cut from slightly above their elbow on one side to past their bicep on the other. ]

Be careful when you pick it up. And use— [ They lean over to the table to pluck a flat brush from the ones sitting there, holding it out to him. ] This one. Just put the resin on the cut side first.

[ Don't mind them while they hunch over to hold up their head with their only hand and watch him like a hawk to make sure he doesn't accidentally break anything. ]

[ One day, Cairngorm will trust Lupin to not fumble anything and everything... That day is apparently not today, but maybe he can start changing their mind. He gingerly picks up the arm (once again noting how damn weird this is, but trying not to think about it) - which is heavy, but in comparison to their main body, feels light as a feather - and the brush before taking a seat next to them. The poor couch creaks under their combined weight, but it's fine. Probably. ]

... Do you really have so little faith in me? [ he comments ruefully, noting their cautious posture as he begins applying the resin. ] I know you don't really remember, but we've already come this far, haven't we? I'm not gonna break you.

[ normally, he'd make some cheesy comment about how the famous Arsène Lupin knows full well how to handle priceless treasures, but there's not really any point when A) Cairngorm doesn't even know his name and B) they always take his posturing as proof he's full of hot air, anyway. ]

This doesn't have anything to do with faith.

[ There's firm denial in their voice, their head shaking as they leer at him. Maybe their lack of memory of their interactions and general dynamic with Lupin is letting them be a bit more truthful than they would normally— generally at a comment like this they might roll their eyes and say something equivalent to yeah, right, instead of grumpily huffing out their true feelings. ]

It's just that I'm not used to letting anyone else do this other than myself or Rutile... of course I'm going to watch carefully. Besides— it's not like you would feel too great leaving yourself in my care, either.

[ his first instinct is to protest - of course he'd be okay being taken care of them! well, maybe it would be a little hairy, depending on how badly hurt he is in this hypothetical situation and considering Cairn's less-than-satisfactory understanding of how the human body works, but it's the principle of the thing! - but he keeps his lip buttoned, just smiling and shaking his head. He shouldn't be taking this so personally. It must be stress getting to him - definitely. Once they're put back together, he can stop worrying so much and take a nap... ]

Fair enough. Then I guess I'll just have to prove myself. Are you ready?

[ there's definitely something a little off about this arm, and Cairngorm mentioned that it could be a problem earlier. As far as he can tell, though, all he can do is stick it on and hope for the best. Once he's painted a generous coat of resin on, he hefts it up with a slight bit of effort, fitting the broken end against their shoulder as best he can. It takes two hands to lift it, for a human; he tries to use one to put some pressure on their disembodied upper arm, too, to help it stick, but he's hoping that they'll help him out with the limb they have left. ]

[ As soon as the flat edge of their arm makes contact with the rest of their body, they make an expression that is the closest one to pain that he’ll have seen on them. Turns out that even if gems don’t necessarily feel “pain”, reattaching limbs isn’t the most comfortable sensation, and it shows in the slight wince they make while they help to hold the arm in place.

After two or three seconds of both of them keeping the stiff limb steady, they slowly start to move the fingers of their newly attached arm, flexing their hand to test its movement. They’re being extremely gentle with the whole limb, though, as if any sudden movement of their shoulder could cause it to fall right off again— so they don’t pull out of his hold, just averting their eyes to the other pieces on the table so they don’t have to make eye contact. At least it’s not their face (now that they’re recalling that fun time), but its still... embarrassing, doubly so because he’s not even here out of obligation or because its his job. ]

There... [ They take away their right hand from where it was supporting their left arm, as if to prove to him that it doesn’t need to be held up anymore. ] It can move now, so— I can handle most of the rest.

[ They’ve already relied on him a lot, today. ]

[ he doesn't let up, but he does notice their change in expression, and a wrinkle forms in his brow - concerned, again. For all their talk of not feeling pain, they certainly looked pained for a second there. Even once they start moving the fingers, he doesn't quite let go until Cairngorm does, and not until he's sure it won't fall off without his support. (His own arm feels sort of like it might fall off after this heavy lifting, but he'll worry about that tomorrow morning when he's good and sore.) ]

... Guh. That looked less than comfortable. [ a pause. ] I didn't hurt you somehow, did I?

[ he's pretty sure he didn't, because he's Lupin, but even Lupin knows this isn't his area of expertise. Their embarrassment doesn't go unnoticed; for the moment, he's simply more worried about their wellbeing than whatever self-consciousness they might be feeling over this, and he stays put where he is. ]

Huh? No, it's not that.

[ They shake their head— explaining will take their mind off of their momentary vulnerability, at least. ]

I told you before that when we break, we can feel it, but nothing lingers, right? [ Bit by bit, their memory is becoming a little bit clearer. While they pause to make sure they're recalling correctly, they swap the pieces on the table such that the two left pieces are lined up and likewise for the right. ] It's like that for reattachment too. Getting a big piece back on is always uncomfortable, but it goes away.

[ They let out a little sigh, stealing a glance at his concerned expression before darting away. ]

It really isn't something to look so worried over. You're supposed to be proving to me you can handle this, anyway...

Handling it and worrying about it aren't mutually exclusive. I'm multitasking.

[ even the great Lupin worries about things sometimes...! He's glad he didn't screw anything up, though. While they rearrange the broken parts, he looks on, seeming to contemplate what to do next. (In reality, he's thinking about the propriety of helping reattach the next pieces... Sure, they're disembodied, but manhandling their thighs still feels a little... invasive. Then again, gems probably don't care about things like that. Do they?! Maybe he's overthinking this.) ]

But in that case, we should try and get this over with quickly.

Edited 2018-09-06 01:22 (UTC)

[ Actually, gems do kinda care about things like that. Which is why they make the motions to glue the upper half of their left leg to the lower half, taking a brush for themself and moving the jar of resin closer to their side. Not only do they vastly prefer it if it doesn't get pieced together backwards, but they'd also find it weirdly embarrassing for him to be handling their leg all over the place, so— it's back to the if you want a job done, do it yourself mindset. ]

That guy cut these pieces cleanly, so this won't take long. [ Yeah, "that guy", who's name is escaping them for the moment. ] It's still something I can fix myself. If a time comes in this place where I'm shattered into lots of pieces or to the point of unconsciousness, that would be the time to worry about it.

[ They trail off, sitting the chunk of crystal on what's left of their lap while they apply the resin to the cut side, focusing on their work instead of looking at him. ]

[ it's okay, this time they're saving the both of them from getting embarrassed. Lupin leans back a bit when Cairngorm moves to do it themself, although he remains sitting next to them. The arm seems like it's working just fine - that's a relief. ]

You take your health pretty lightly. [ and memories, but. ] What was going on on that island, anyway? You remember any of it yet?

[ They don't answer for a moment, reaching over to the table to pick up their left leg by the calf, moving it so that it's almost like a bridge between the space between them— not without giving an expectant glance to him, and then the ankle. ]

Here, hold onto that end. [ It's just their shoe and their ankle, so that's not as bad as letting him do any of the hard work. And doing this first gives them time to try and recall any information they remember... ] It was weird. Most of the people there were starving and worrying about getting eaten.

[ Neither of which were their concerns, at least not personally. ]

So most of what was "going on" was fighting those things, or catching fish.

[ he wordlessly accepts the leg (this, he can deal with), feeling a scant bit of triumph in Cairngorm actually inviting him to keep helping after telling him they'd be fine on their own a few moments ago. ]

Most of the monsters around here are biting off more than they can chew when they come after you, aren't they? Lucky you.

[ on the downside, they can only get back home if someone chops them up into 6 pieces, so Lupin thinks he's okay with being a tasty human. ]

I can't imagine you were out there catching fish. Were you fighting, then?

[ They make a face at that comment, carefully connecting the two pieces of their leg, before painting on the resin on the remaining cut side. ]

I was doing both. [ Huff!! ] It's not like standing in the water to fish was dangerous for me or anything.

[ Not like it was for all their human companions... so they'd lent a hand out of practicality. When they're done applying more resin, they gingerly take the leg from him and fit it against their wound, flinching as they do so— but any discomfort they show only lasts for a fleeting moment. ]

Makes me wonder why they even bothered dragging me there in the first place.

[ They mumble. As far as they're concerned, they were a complete waste of a capture. Ever so carefully, they bend their leg so it's not stiffly straight anymore, setting the heel gently down on the wooded floor with a soft clink. ]

Were you, now?

[ hmmmm. he smiles a little bit. It makes him happy that they're helping take care of the others, too; he can't pinpoint why, exactly, but it does. Maybe it's just nice to hear about them branching out rather than withdrawing further into themselves, despite the vast differences between them and the rest of the people living here. He wants Cairngorm to have friends. ]

They probably just took you with the rest without thinking. Or maybe they liked how shiny you were. [ Lupin retracts his hands once they've reattached the entire leg, leaning over to pick up the bottom portion of the remaining one, albeit rather tiredly. ] Almost done.

It wouldn't be the first time I've been sought after because of that.

[ They're of course talking about Lunarians being drawn to them and all their sparkly friends!!

After saying that though, they seem to want to work in silence, going about the routine of repairing themself with deft hands. It only takes a little over a minute to get to the task of setting their second leg on, which they do quickly and without hesitation around the discomfort.

There's a beat, and then, they lean back all the way on the couch, letting their head hang over the backside with their eyes closed shut, their right hand going to cradle where they'd been mended on their left arm. There's a long, almost dramatic, drawn out sigh, while they try to sort through their thoughts properly. ]

There. Good as new... [ Everything is totally fine now, of course. ] I can't believe this place forced me to resort to something like that.

[ It's over, so now they shouldn't be stressed anymore, but they're practically allergic to taking risks of the scale this plan required. So there is residual stress. What's worse is that the issue of thanking him or acknowledging that he went to quite a great length to help them is much more burdensome now that they can remember every interaction they've had, how worried he had seemed for their well-being... maybe, if they just sit here calmly (avoidably), he'll agree that everything is fine now and they can both move on from this. ]

Event Nine.

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